Liquid evacuating adapter



July 24, 1962 P. B. WAYMAN ETAL 3,045,722

LIQUID EVACUATING ADAPTER Filed Dec. 31, 1959 START HERE FOR VALVES WITH /N 5 N TORS ATTORNEY;

7 3,045,722 LIQUID EVACUATING ADAPTER Paul B. Wayman and Philip L. Johnson, Marshalltown,

Iowa, assignors to Fisher Governor Company, a corporation of Iowa Filed Dec. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 863,258 4 Claims. (Cl. 141-348) This invention relates generally to an improved liquid evacuating adapter for valved storage tanks.

In the storage of liquefied petroleum gas in tank type containers, it is necessary to provide means for container evacuation. Since a wide variety of filler valve, vapor return valve, and multiple valved head units of different design and manufacture are commonly employed with such storage containers, it is necessary to provide an unloading or evacuating adapter for coupling a withdrawal line to a tank valve and for actuating the tank valve to a full open position for unobstructed evacuating flow. It is highly desirable, therefore, to provide a liquid evacuating adapter which is capable of interchangeable use with substantially all common commercial tank valves.

It is the primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved liquid evacuating adapter for simple and safe evacuation of liquefied petroleum gas storage containers.

It is another object of this invention to provide a liquid evacuating adapter which is entirely self-adjusting for interchangeable use with the full commercial range of tank valves, and without any necessity for removal of the withdrawal hose to correct any adjustment errors.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a liquid evacuating adapter which eliminates all risk of injury to the tank valve internal parts by preventing mechanical overstress or excessive leverage forces.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a liquid evacuating adapter having improved flow capacity by providing a substantially unrestricted straight-through flow passage.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a liquid evacuating adapter constructed in accordance with the principles and features of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the adapter of FIGURE 1, taken substantially as indicated by the line 22 on FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 3 is a top end view of the adapter of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a surface layout view of the cam slot of the adapter body.

Referring now more particularlyto FIGURE 2 of the drawing, we have indicated generally at a liquid evacuating adapter constructed in accordance with the present invention. The adapter ill comprises a unitary, one-piece metal body of longitudinally-elongated, hollow, open-ended form. The body 12 defines an internal slide bore 14 intermediate its open ends. The ends of the slide bore 14 terminate in a converging shoulder I6 at the tank-outward end and a diverging shoulder 18 at the tank-inward end. A reduced diameter bore 20 extends outwardly from the shoulder 16 and is internally threaded at 22. The body 12 provides an exteriorly Acme-threaded collar 24 at its outermost end. A seal shoulder 26 serves to support a gasket ring 28. A small relief hole 29 is provided for the ring 28. In this way, the tank-outward end of the adapter 10 is formed to receive the coupling end of a withdrawal hose (not shown) in fluid tight relation.

The tank-inward end of the body 12 provides an enlarged diameter bore 30 which is internally threaded at 32 to receive a coupling nipple member 34. The nipple 34 defines an internal bore 36. A coupling nut 33 is carried by the nipple 34 at its free end and is internally Acme-threaded at 40 in spaced relation to a reduced end portion 42 of the nipple 34. An arc ring 44 is carried in a suitable external peripheral groove of the nipple 34. In this way, the tank-inward end of the adapter 10 is formed for coupling attachment with conventional tank filler valves, vapor return valves, and multiple valved head structures (not shown).

The body 12 is formed with a threaded lateral bore 46 at one side, adapted to receive a thumb screw 48 carrying a seal disc 5%]. A seat 52 formed within the bore 46 cooperates with the disc 50 and communicates through a bleed hole 54 with the slide bore 14. In this way, trapped liquid or vapor can be bled from the adapter interior when desired.

A slide member 60 is mounted for axially reciprocable movement within the slide bore 14 of the body 12. The slide 60 is of longitudinally-elongated, hollow, open-ended form, and is preferably made of aluminum. The slide 60 defines a bore 62 therethrough. The bore 62 is of relatively large diameter, equal in size to the bores 20 and 36. It will be apparent that in this way a straightthrough flow path of substantial size is provided through the interior of the body 12.

The slide 60 is internally formed with a transversely extending boss 64. A guide hole 66 extends through the boss 64 in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body 12. A laterally extending, threaded hole 68 extends from the guide hole 66 through the slide 60. Slide seal rings 70 and 72 are provided within the body 12 and the slide 60, respectively.

An axially elongated hex adjusting stem 74 is guidedly supported by the guide hole 66 of the slide boss 64. An abutment pin 76 is carried by the stem 74 and cooperates with the boss 64 for the mounting of a biasing spring 78. A stop pin it} is also carried by the stem 74 for engagement against the slide boss 64. In this way the stem 74 is normally maintained in its position of extended relation through the nipple 34 as shown in FIGURE 2, but is capable of resilient sliding movement into the body 12.

A cam slot 82 extends through the body 12. A handle stem 84 cooperates with the slot 82 and extends inwardly therethrough. The inner end of the handle stem 84 is threaded for cooperation with the lateral hole 68 of the slide 6%. The handle stem 84 terminates in a flat seating head 88 which is adapted to lockingly engage against the flat sides of the hex adjusting stem 74. An O-ring 94) provides a seal between the handle stem 84 and the slide 66. The handle stem 84 carries a ball knob 92 for manual gripping.

Practical Operation It is contemplated that the adapter 10 will be coupled to any tank filler valve, vapor return valve, or multiple valve head unit that has a standard male fitting of l%-6 Acme threads. The coupling nut 38 provides a corresponding mating female fitting of 1%-6 Acme threads;

Before the adapter 10 is secured to a tank valve, the handle stem 84 is loosened by turning it counter-clockwise when viewed from the ball knob 92. The handle stem 84 is turned from /2 to 1 turn to allow the hex adjusting stem 74 to slide freely within its guide hole 66 of the slide 60. The extended end of the stem 74 will be moved automatically by the action of the spring 78 into engagement with the upper back check valve of a tank filler valve or the stem of a vapor return valve. As the adapter 10 is tightly coupled with the tank valve, the engaged tank valve parts and the hex adjusting stem will automatically effect a self-positioning of the stem 74 against the bias of its spring 78. No manual adjustment of parts is necessary.

The handle stem 84 is moved within its slot 82 to a position which is suitably identified by a calibration marking on the exterior of the body 12 as a closed position. The ball knob 92 is then manually rotated in a clockwise direction to tighten the handle stem 84 and its seating head 88 against the hex adjusting stem 74. In this way, the stem 74 is set in its position of contacting engagement against the tank valve parts. The handle stem 84 may now be moved in its slot 82 toward a position suitably marked on the valve body #12 as an open position. The shape and orientation of the slot 82 is such that this movement of the stem 84 causes a sliding movement of the slide 60 in a tank-inward direction within the bore 14 of the body 12, carrying the hex adjusting stem 74 with it. The stem 74 thereby effects the application of an opening force against the tank valve parts for opening the tank valve and providing a free passageway between the interior of the tank and the withdrawal hose attached to the collar 24 of the adapter 10.

Tank valves of various different manufacture and design age have different lengths of travel from their full closed positions to their full open positions. The adapter of the present invention will accommodate any valve from to /2 travel without danger of pushing out any structure of the tank valve. If the particular travel of the tank valve is unknown, it can quickly be determined by taking a trial adjustment in accordance with the procedure described above. If the handle stem 34 does not go all the way from one end of the slot 82 to the other end, then the point at which the handle stem is no longer movable along the slot by hand pressure can be determined as that lesser portion of a full /2 travel which characterizes the particular travel of that valve. A new starting position can then be assumed for that particular valve as the distance between the closed position and the open position.

It is desirable that the handle of the travel stem 84 should end in the straight portion of the cam travel at its open position (see FIGURE 4) so as to insure a lock, whereby the flow pressure through the adapter will not tend to move the slide 60 in a reverse direction and effect a closing of the valve and a shut-off of the flow through it. Two starting positions on the cam slot 82 are preferably provided and identified by stamping on the body 12 for known travels of tank valves. These positions are the /z and A" travels. Other lengths of travel can be determined by trial and interpolated therebetween.

In normal operation, the handle stem 84 is manually moved along its cam slot 82 to the closed position when it is desired to shut off the flow through the tank valve and through the adapter A quick closure means is also provided, however, as a further feature of the adapter of the present invention. In case of emergency, the ball knob 92 may be turned counterclockwise to release the hex adjusting stem 74, allowing the tank pressure to snap close the upper back check of the tank valve. After the adapter is returned to its closed position trapped liquid or vapor can be bled through the bleed hole 54 by means of the thumb screw 48.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A liquid evacuating adapter for storage containers of the type having a normally-closed valve adapted to be opened when engaged and moved, said adapter comprising a hollow open-ended body defining a straight-through flow passage and an internally enlarged slide bore, connector means at the container-outward end of said body for coupling attachment to a withdrawal hose, connector means at the container-inward end of said body for coupling attachment with the container valve, a hollow open-ended slide reciproeable within said slide bore, said slide defining a bore of relatively large flow area substantially equal in size to the flow area of said body straight-through fioW passage thereby not to restrict passage, an elongated stern reciprocably carried by said slide, biasing means normally extending a free end of said stern outwardly through said container-inward end of said body to operate the container valve, and releasable lock means for adjustably fixing the extended position of said stem.

2. A liquid evacuating adapter for storage containers of the type having a normally-closed valve adapted to be opened when engaged and moved, said adapter comprising a hollow open-ended body defining an internal slide bore, connector means at the container-outward end of said body for coupling attachment to a withdrawal hose, connector means at the container-inward end of said body for coupling attachment with the container valve, a hollow open-ended slide reciproeable within said slide bore, an elongated stem reciprocably carried by said slide, biasing means normally extending a free end of said stem outwardly through said container-inward end of said body, a cam slot extending through said body, handle means extending through said slot in cooperative relation with said slide for releasable locking engagement with said stern, movement of said handle means along said cam slot serving to reciprocate said slide and said stem carried therewith to operate the container valve, thereby to adjustably fix the extended position of said stem.

3. A liquid evacuating adapter for storage containers of the type having a normally-closed valve adapted to be opened when engaged and moved, said adapter comprising a hollow open-ended body defining a straight-through flow passage and an internally enlarged slide bore, connector means at the container-outward end of said body for coupling attachment to a withdrawal hose, connector means at the container-inwar end of said body for coupling attachments with the container valve, a hollow open-ended slide reciproeable within said slide bore, said slide defining a bore of relatively large flow area substantially equal in size to the flow area of said body straightthrough fiow passage thereby not to restrict passage, an elongated stem reciprocably carried by said slide, biasing means normally extending a free end of said stem outwardly through said container-inward end of said body, a cam slot extending through said body, handle means extending through said slot in cooperative relation with said slide for releasable locking engagement with said stem, movement of said handle means along said cam slot serving to reciprocate said slide and said stem carried therewith, thereby to adjustably fix the extended position of said stem to operate the container valve.

4. A liquid evacuating adapter for storage containers of the type having a normally-closed valve adapted to be opened when engaged and moved, said adapter comprising a hollow open-ended body adapted at its opposite ends for coupling attachment to a withdrawal hose and the container valve respectively, a hollow open-ended slide reciproeable within said body, an elongated stern reciprocably carried by said slide and extending outwardly through said container-inward end of said body to operate the container valve, a cam slot extending through said body, handle means extending through said slot, and means on said slide and handle means for releasably locking said handle means in engagement with said stem, whereby movement of said handle means along said cam slot serves to reciprocate said slide and said stem carried therewith, while release of said handle means from said stern enables the extended position of said stem to be adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 176,844 Drinen May 2, 1876 6 Firpo Jan. 23, 1923 Davis July 8, 1930 Clark Mar. 9, 1937 Nelson Oct. 19, 1937 Peeps May 27, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS France June 5, 1957 

